The Little Black Dress - My Favourite Pick from Rosegal

The Little Black Dress is something no one can get enough of and I for one, never think that owning one too many is a crime and if it is, then I'm guilty as charged! The latest one to join my arsenal is this little number from Rosegal.

This dress caught my eyes immediately because of the polka dot mesh inserts and the flattering cut. Although the material feels like good quality, I find it creases badly and well, it annoys me; but at least the stitching of the dress is good and the back zipper runs smoothly.

I paired the dress with my latest shoe buy, this pair of mirrored rose gold heels and a nude handbag. I didn't want to go for the usual black and red combo so this seemed to do the trick! I added a belt to cinch in the waist further et voila!

Lastly, a little word about Rosegal. The China-based website stocks a variety of clothing items for both men and women at very affordable prices. They also stock shoes, jewellery and accessories as well as novelty items. It only took 2 weeks for the dress to be delivered and I didn't have any issues with customer care. The dress is a size Small which for me is a bit big but they didn't have Extra Small in stock so I risked it. Luckily it doesn't show it is that big so I guess I did a good choice :)

Anyone else who can't get enough of LBD's? Please tell me I'm not the only one!

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Choosing the Right Contact Lenses & Taking Care of Our Eyes with Optika Opticians

It's no secret I love wearing glasses - I've been wearing them for the last 10 years and I like to think of my current D&G ones as a fashion statement and an accessory. However, sometimes I still like to change it up and opt to wear contact lenses instead.

I visited Optika's Sliema outlet this week to find out more about the different types of contact lenses they offer as well as some other eye care products and cosmetics you can find at each of their outlets. The staff were very helpful in thoroughly explaining the different types of lenses as well as providing tips for optimal care which I will be sharing with you in this post.

The concept of contact lenses was first introduced by Leonardo da Vinci in 1508 but it wasn't until the 1970's that adequate materials were developed for them to actually be comfortable enough for use by people on a daily basis. Today, contact lenses come in different types and can either be prescription lenses or purely cosmetic, and in most cases, they are either supplied as dailies or monthlies. Optika stock three brands of contact lenses, namely, Johnson&Johnson, Alcon and Bausch&Lomb.

Each of these established brands offers a wide array of lenses to suit different requirements. The most asked for types are the prescribed dailies and monthlies. Whether you choose one or the other really boils down to how and when you wear your lenses. This decision should be taken together with an eye care professional. I am a dailies contact user myself and up to now, I have always used the Alcon Dailies Aqua Comfort Plus but as of late, they didn't seem to agree any more with my eyes and sometimes I just had to take them out the instant I put them on. It was suggested I try the Alcon Dailies Total 1 instead and was given a trial pack to try before I buy - now that is excellent customer service! The Dailies Total 1 are the newest lenses being sold at Optika and I admit I have high expectations for them - they are a water gradient lens making it very comfortable to wear as well as very breathable making sure your eyes get as much oxygen as possible.

As the name implies, daily contact lenses are meant for a one time use. Monthly lenses can be worn for one month, with a strict day to day cleaning regime, and for that Optika, stock different sanitizing solutions. Such solutions are multi-purpose and are meant to clean and store the lenses before wearing them again.  There is a second type of solution called a hydrogen peroxide solution which needs to be used with caution and under the recommendation of your eye care professional. Once the lens is placed in the solution the hydrogen peroxide turns into water over the time span of 6 hrs thanks to a metal disc found in the case. It is safe to use after 6 hrs but it is always recommended to rinse with saline solution prior to use. The staff at Optika will guide you accordingly into choosing the best solution or your needs so do not hesitate to ask for help. 

Other eye solutions in stock are designed to be used on your eyes when you're not wearing contact lenses to refresh them after a day of wearing lenses.

Moving on to cosmetic lenses or coloured lenses, Optika offers a good variety. The most popular are AirOptix and Fresh Look which have similar colours that look very natural whereas the ones from Bausch&Lomb are much brighter and not really for the faint-hearted.

Here I am wearing Air Optix Green (right eye) and Brown (left eye) and the bottom picture shows my natural eye colour just to show how natural the coloured lenses look. Air Optix can also be supplied with vision correction.

pictures taken by my boyfriend

Air Optix employ a 3-in-1 Colour Technology which defines the eyes, transforms the eye colour and brightens and adds depth with 3 different colour rings.
Picture taken by my boyfriend

Lastly, if you suffer from astigmatism, there are toric contact lenses which are not usually stocked at Optika but they can order them for you and have them available within 10 days. Contact lenses are supplied in packs of 30 or 90.

I hope you learnt something new about contact lenses through this post. Watch this space for another post in collaboration with Optika, treating cosmetics for sensitive eyes and effective remedies for dry eyes. In the meantime, I look forward to trying my new contacts!

I'm wearing:
Top, Michael Kors at Rebelli
Hat, Jimmy Choo at Rebelli

Photography by Neil Psaila unless otherwise stated.

Introducing Human+Kind Natural Skin Care

It seems that nowadays, everyone and their mother are more aware of the benefits of eating natural, unprocessed foods and this holds true even for cosmetics - most of the time, natural is best! Today I am introducing you to Human+Kind, one of the latest brands to join the Paloma Cosmetics Portfolio.

Part of the Human+Kind product range at Roseberry

About Human+Kind

Human+Kind is an Irish skin-care brand which as its name implies, it is Human in providing effective, natural skin care solutions, + Kind with its no animal testing policy and environment-friendly approach. The brand saw it's inception in 2011 in Cork, Ireland and was distributed to a few select countries at first and gradually expanded to more markets. Their original and still a best selling product is the Family Remedy cream which individuals who suffer from psoriasis and eczema continually sing their praises for. All products from Human+Kind are free from parabens or petrochemicals.

I was kindly given two products from the range - the Watermelon Hand+Elbow+Foot Cream and the Apple & Herbs Sensitive Conditioner. The packaging of each product is without a doubt striking and very appealing - they have such colourful motifs, they are sure to brighten up your bathroom! Let's have a look at the products individually.

Human+Kind Watermelon Hand+Elbow+Foot Cream - €7.95 for 50ml

First up is the Hand+Elbow+Foot Cream and I have the one that smells of Watermelon, yumm! The smell reminds me so much of summer which is precisely why I like to apply this cream before going to bed - I can go to sleep with happy thoughts on my mind, plus I wake up with baby-soft hands in the morning :) I make sure to use just a little bit though because otherwise, it doesn't get absorbed and just sits on your skin for quite a while. It works equally good on the heels and elbows and contributes to softer skin especially as far as our driest skin points go.

The key natural ingredients that make this product so effective are, Aloe Vera extract, Shea Butter, Marigold Oil, Centella asiatica extract, Avocado Oil, Rosehip Seed Oil and Cocoa Seed Oil. All of these ingredients are known for their richness and hydration properties as well as their ability in boosting circulation and promoting skin regeneration among other benefits.

Human+Kind Apple & Herbs Sensitive Conditioner - €9.95 for 200ml

Next I have the Human+Kind Apple & Herbs Sensitive Hair Conditioner. My hair is very fine yet it tangles easily and if I dare not condition it, it just doesn't look good. I found this particular conditioner to be a little thicker than my usual ones but it hasn't altered the oil levels in my hair so that's good. It smells nice and leaves my hair looking glossy and feeling soft so this definitely gets a full 5 stars from me! It is marketed as a 2-in-1 product for it soothes sensitive skins and it gently nourishes the hair. The key ingredients are Aloe extract and Marshmallow root/leaf extract which helps alleviate skin irritations.

I think Human+Kind is a promising brand and I am looking into buying the Family Remedy Cream to treat a minor eczema outbreak I currently have.

Human+Kind is available at Roseberry, Valletta and Melita Health and Beauty, St.Julian's.

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Pupa Milano Collection Privée Limited Edition

I think we can all agree that winter is a chicer season when it comes to dressing up and of course, makeup is no exception. This year's proposition from Pupa Milano comes in the form of sophisticated browns and burgundies with hints of red - classic colours that never go out of fashion and can always be re-invented. This is the Collection Privée Limited Edition.

Attention to detail is synonymous with Pupa Milano products and this collection boasts beautiful metallic packaging with a rich crocodile-embossed motif on the boxes and some of the products. I received two products from this collection - the Highlighter and the Made to Last Lip Duo 013. I have used both products on multiple occasions and now, here are my thoughts on them.

Of course I have already said that the packaging is to die for! Just look at those metallic details and the highlighter is definitely the star piece in this collection so let's talk about it first. The colour is a gorgeous champagne gold with a subtle pink undertone. I would go as far and say it is a muted rose gold. It's kind of a pity to have to use it and I always try not to pick too much product so I can enjoy the crocodile skin effect for longer; not that you need a lot of this highlighter to achieve a megawatt result anyway! I love the subtle shimmer effect of this highlighter, making it suitable for daytime use and I can easily build up the intensity for night time! Retail price is €17.50 and is available in the shade 001.

The next product is the Made to Last Lip Duo in the shade 013 Opulent Red. I was elated to see this colour in my press pack for red lipstick is something I reach for very often. The product comes with a liquid lipstick that dries to a matte finish on one side and a glossy top coat at the other end. I like to line my lips with a lip pencil before colour application, and then proceed to apply the liquid lip colour, allow it a couple of seconds to dry completely and then apply the glossy top coat. I am very happy with this product for a number of reasons - firstly, the pigmentation is insane! Just one coat and you have even colour all around; secondly, once dry, it doesn't budge; thirdly, the colour doesn't transfer onto the glossy topcoat brush and lastly, it lasts for ages! You cannot use it as a matte lip colour though because it feels a little tacky and the gloss helps to eliminate that sticky feeling. Retail price is €11.95 and is available in two different shades.

I really enjoy combining these two products from the Collection Privée Limited Edition with the Pupa Duo Eyes Twist-Up 002 Safari Khaki (part of the summer limited edition Savanna - €12.80) which is a double-ended eye product - a metallic khaki eyeshadow on one end and a blackened khaki liner on the other. This is another exceptional product from the Pupa makeup line which is characterised with high pigmentation and extremely good lasting power. All in all, I think the Pupa Collection Privée is appealing to everyone with its classic colours yet modern look.

Wearing Pupa Privee Made to Last Lip Duo 013 & Highlighter - photo by Neil Psaila

The Pupa Collection Privée Limited Edition also consists of 3 Vamp! Eyeshadows, 2 automatic eyeliners and 2 nail polishes. For stockists, contact Pupa Milano Malta on Facebook.

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PearlSmile Teeth Whitening at People & Skin Med-Aesthetic Clinic - Is it worth the hype?

Last Thursday I was quite excited to go to my appointment at People & Skin Med-Aesthetic Clinic in Sliema to have my teeth whitened with the PearlSmile system.

I was always conscious of the way my teeth look and they are the reason why I never, or very rarely show them in photos. I take good care of them but I always thought they are more on the yellow side than they should be for someone who has never smoked and doesn't drink coffee. When People & Skin offered me a treatment of my choice from the vast array of cosmetic treatments they offer, PearlSmile Teeth Whitening looked like the perfect opportunity to get whiter-looking teeth without going to the dentist!

About PearlSmile

PearlSmile is a German, cosmetic teeth whitening system which uses cold LED light to activate a 01.% peroxide gel to whiten teeth. It is a painless process that doesn't damage the tooth enamel or gums. The gel acts by neutralizing the pigment in the teeth, thus resulting in a whiter smile :)

Treatment

Fast forward a few days and I was on the doorstep of the clinic eagerly waiting to start the treatment! But, first things first. I was asked to fill out my details on a form prior to treatment and on which my teeth colour (according to the PearlSmile chart) was recorded before the commencement of treatment and after.

I was subsequently invited to the PearlSmile booth by my therapist who explained what the treatment entails and asked me if I wanted to go for the full 1 hour treatment (which is what I originally booked) or a 20 minute session. I could always opt to progress to another two 20 minute treatments for a full hour but I opted for the 20 minute session to see how it goes.

The first step is to clean the teeth using a PearlSmile wipe. This is a sort of finger wipe which tastes like toothpaste to prep the teeth. In the meantime, the therapist prepared a transparent silicone guard with the PearlSmile Gel and gave it to me to put over my teeth (side note - avoid any highly pigmented lipstick as it might get smudged). The timer on the cold LED equipment used to whiten teeth was initiated and I just sat back and relaxed in the super comfy booth!

Results & After-care

I must admit it wasn't the most comfortable of experiences when it comes to the silicone guard - it is a one size fits all kind of thing and I always have the same problem with such articles - they are too big for me so I had to be really careful to make sure it doesn't fall out. I think if the guard came in a smaller size, it would have been more comfortable for me so I am glad I went for the 20 minute treatment instead of a full hour.

When the timer was up, I was asked to remove the guard and after rinsing my mouth, we went on to see the difference. I went up from S14 to S12 so there was a one shade difference. Of course, the longer the treatment time, the whiter your teeth will get.

The difference is noticeable even with just one shade so I was quite happy to see it actually works. I might get further treatments in the future based on the fact that it works but not for now. It is advised to avoid foods which require some effort to chew for the first few hours after treatment as the gums would be a little sensitive. Having said that, I didn't experience any pain whatsoever. Also, red wine and coffee are best avoided following the treatment at least for a few hours.

To maintain whiter teeth, PearlSmile have the finger wipes and a powder 'toothpaste', both of which can be purchased by the customer as after care products. I went ahead and got a packet of wipes which retails for €10 for 24 wipes as they will come in handy when eating out.

If you're looking to have whiter teeth I would recommend the PearlSmile treatment and I would consider doing it again - I just wish the company would consider manufacturing smaller teeth guards for people with small jaws like me. A one hour session costs €145 while a 20 minute session costs €69.

I was wearing:
Pants - Purple
Earrings - Zara
Bag - Furla

Photography - Neil Psaila.

PearlSmile treatment was offered to me for free by People & Skin. All opinions are solely my own.